The Grapes Of Wrath

Staff Pick

The saga of the Joad family's dire trek from the Oklahoma dustbowl to California was read by millions at its 1939 release. The book was a huge hit with the public and has been firmly embedded in high school curricula essentially ever since. It's a book that can change the trajectory of lives and challenge people to hope. It is easy to forget how far the world has come, and how quickly. There were no Motel 6s for the Joads, and they couldn't live on credit cards until things looked up. Modern readers do well to contemplate just how few generations separate them and their indoor plumbing from the crippling poverty of forebearers. For the Joads, during the Great Depression, survival came before material well-being. With this family, Steinbeck shows us the pride and dignity of a people who have suffered the loss of everything. This American tale transcends America and is universal: Jews fleeing the Cossacks, the Vietnamese boat people, evacuees of Hurricane Katrina all understand what Tom Joad understands, namely that he'll endure; wherever you look, he'll be there. The Grapes of Wrath is adored by high-brow and low-brow. It lends itself to retelling: in 1940 John Ford adapted Steinbeck's book for the cinema. Decades later it was seen by the young Bruce Springsteen and it affects his work and our lives still today.

The book about a migrant family seeking a better life in California during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s was not only banned, it was burned by people citing vulgar words and sexual references, nevertheless the Nobel Prize committee later indicated that the work was one of the prime reasons that its author won the top award in literature. Reissue.

New: Mint condition or still sealed (SS). Absolutely perfect in every way. New.

Fine/Like New (EX): No defects, little sign of use, well cared for. Plays perfectly. Close to new. Not necessarily sealed or unused, but close. Could be an unopened promotional or cut item. Sometimes called: mint-minus.

Very Good (VG): Will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.

Good (G): Attractive and well cared for, but no longer fresh. Minor signs of wear, scuffing or scratching, but will play almost perfectly. For vinyl: barely detectable crackles or pops.

Fair (FR): This item is in okay condition. For vinyl: good is not so good and the record may have low level crackles or pops when playing. CD: one or more tracks may skip.

Poor (P): Obviously well-worn and handled. Most vinyl collectors will not buy good or below, but some tracks on CD or vinyl will play.